Cambridge Parent Information

Cambridge is an accelerated academic program that helps students reach their academic goals and teaches them how to be global citizens. Cambridge is a k-12 program, but students are invited to join the program at anytime in their educational careers. At CMS, we believe that students benefit from stretching themselves. Whether you take one course in an area of interest or strength or you decide to join the Cambridge International Diploma Pathway and take seven or more courses at the highest level, we are here to help you become a life long learner.

Cambridge truly focuses on preparing students for the rigors of college. Our curriculum is built on open ended questions, the application of knowledge verses the recall, and depth of breadth of topics. This allows our students to learn how to learn and become self motivated lifelong learners.

Inquiry and research as well has communication skills are nurtured in our Cambridge classes. Students are asked to communicate their understanding and application of content through multiple ways: writing, speaking, digital, and visual representation.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is the largest assessment and academic program in the world, and a part of the Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. With over 10,000 schools, 160 countries, and 40 governments utilizing their curriculum, they are recognized through out the world. Over 700 universities and colleges accept their exam credits, and recently NC State University System created a policy that accepts all AS and A levels earned at a C or higher. Many other state systems are following suit and have put similar policies in place.

Cambridge prides itself on preparing students for the rigors of life, university, and career by teaching critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills. The entire process is built on the philosophies of the Leaner Attributes. These ideals and strong academic expectation allow for students to become independent, global citizens that are ready to leave the protections of home and high school to successfully advance through whatever they choices they make.

Our students live in an ever changing, ever shrinking world. Knowledge of the world, customs, and perspectives are needed now more than ever before. A Cambridge education provides opportunities for our students to look past themselves and into their neighbors' world by looking at issues from the local, national, and international perspective. This ability to see an issue from another perspective will help our students be kinder and give them problem solving and critical thinking skills that will giving them a competitive edge in school and in the job market.

In the early years of the Cambridge Program, students are introduced to the Leaner Attributes, international perspectives, and inquiry based learning philosophies at all ability levels. This allows all of our students to learn how to learn the Cambridge way. We build self esteem and questioning into all lessons so that as students grow and change, they can move at their pace. This is important so that later, if they choose to take a Cambridge course in middle or high school they have the foundational knowledge of how we learn and teach in these courses.

Rigor is found through differentiation. We ask that open ended questioning be used in conjunction with multiple choice tests, until both the teacher and students are comfortable. We then ask that all questions are open ended. We also ask that writing occurs regularly. Writing skills are very important, and this is a core principal in Cambridge.

Lower Secondary teaches Cambridge philosophies such as Global Perspectives and Learner Attributes throughout the school, but it is at this point that we see an honors level course called Cambridge appear on transcripts. These courses are meant to assist students in preparing for high school IGCSE courses, and the pacing is rigorous. Students are again asked to complete more open ended questioning and all courses require more writing. Cambridge Middle School honors courses are English, math, and science. Most Lower Secondary Schools offer a version of the Global Perspectives Project that truly builds knowledge and understanding of the local, national, and international issues that our students face.

IGCSE stands for International General Certificate of Secondary Education. These courses are the first step in our high school course program. They can be found in both our middle and high schools. IGCSE represents those honors courses that help build content knowledge and are vertically aligned to our AS and A level college level courses that you will learn about later. These courses carry the same GPA weight as an honors course.

These courses are paced at a rigorous level and we have high expectations for our students. Open ended questioning and writing will play a large role in these courses. We offer English 1and 2; Math 1-3, Biology, Chemistry, and Spanish (at Hopewell) at this point.

Anyone who carries a C or higher in the pervious course can take an IGCSE class. Ask a counselor or your Cambridge Site Coordinator.

If you have ever heard someone from another country talk about taking their A levels, than you have heard of these courses. AS stands for Advanced Subsidiary and A stands for Advanced. These courses are year 1 (AS) and year 2 (A) of a course and can be taken just as AS or together. We offer mainly AS courses, as does most US states.

These are college level courses and if you pass the exam at the end of the course you can earn college credit and will earn a point towards your Cambridge International Diploma. These course earn the same GPA as AP/IB courses.

These courses are rigorous, but manageable if you use good time management There is a heavy writing component to all content areas. This along with research and inquiry skills will prepare you for college. Students can take one or you can take multiple AS/A classes.

Students need to have a C in the pervious course to be placed in an AS/A course.

We do not require an application. We ask that if you are going to be a part of the honors level courses in Lower Secondary or in High School (IGCSE/AS/A) that you have earned at least a C in a like course pervious to the Cambridge course you are requesting. This way you know that you are up for the task. We never want to put a student in a situation where they will struggle and possible fail.

You probably will struggle a bit. Depending on when you join our Cambridge Family, it can be challenging to learn a new way to learn. That is ok! We want you to be challenged. What is the fun of always knowing the answer? But it isn't fun to struggle all of the time, and we have put in some safe guards to help you. Let's explore what those safe guards are in the following paragraphs.

1. We ask that if you earned a B or C in a pervious like course that you take AVID. AVID is a great program that supports students taking advanced courses. It will help you get organized and teach you how to manage time and projects. It will also give you a chance to get help with homework. AVID is the first step to helping yourself become a great student.

2. Become a Self Advocate for your education. Your site coordinator and teacher can sit down with you to help you determine what the main issues are and a plan of action to overcome these. We are a team, and we want to help you not just with content, but with your overall development as a lifelong learner.

The Cambridge International Diploma is earned by earning seven points through the passing of AS and A level courses. Each AS course counts as 1 point and an A level counts as 2 points. A student must earn an e or better on the exam to receive a point.

This is a huge undertaking for students and colleges and universities recognize this achievement when looking at students for admissions to their institutions. The diploma is the cherry on top of the sundae. Although it is not necessary to prove that a student has taken challenging courses, it does show a sense of fortitude within a student to take the number of courses and pass them. It proves that they are willing to work hard, study, and put their education first.

The answer to that is the same for AP and IB, depends on where you are going. Most state school systems have policies around each program and offer credits. UNC System Policy allows students to earn credit for both AS/A credits for a grade of e or better.

Private institutions have policies that vary from school to school. Please check the Cambridge Recognition Page for more information.

If you have a private institution that you know is not currently taking Cambridge credits, but you are thinking about attending, please let Stephanie Kelso know as soon as possible so that she can begin the recognition process. There are no promises with this process, but we will send the Cambridge Recognition officer to the school to discuss the possibilities of accepting credits.

It can take up to two years for a private institution to implement a policy of acceptance.

Stephanie Kelso

Cambridge Coordinator, CMS

stephanie.kelso@cms.k12.nc.us

https://sites.google.com/cms.k12.nc.us/cambridge/home